Tide and wave motor



Jan. 27, 1931. F. w. MORSE 1,790,058

TIDE ANDWAVE MOTOR Filed July 17, 1929 2 Shuts-Sheet '1 1014 i110 magi, w

ATTORQNEY Jan. 27, 1931. F. w. MoR'sE 1,790,058

TIDE AND m; 1010a Filed July '17. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \u ml LI l INVENTOR flzm iwlhrse.

ATTORNEY Patented JanQZ'I, 1931 a FRANK w. essiaen sen weenie ea -am.Gamma TI ELSAN W V QMQTG Q.

Application filed I 111$ 'llhe inuentioniprimarily has for its obj'ect to: provide a novel'mea'ns for efiiciently har-J nessing the kinetic ,"energyincident to the IlSEfLIlCl' fall oftides and: th'c variat ons ofjun- 'dulatory. motions occasioned byocean waves and swells and for applying that energy touseful andpractical work. I

I f In: its more detaileclnature the invention cables woundi overtheclutches and attached to the anchors and counterbalance weights resides in the provision of" a free anchored float-of considerable size and having thereon a pluralityof'motorunits including clutches;

7 so arranged relatively wean; other, the float which ion the line l4 on Figure 1.

-' and to a single-shaft'to which rotation is imparted in one direction only, that everymo- .tion of which thefloat is capable under action of the element in which it is:anchored will serve to impart rotationto the said shaft in a manner assuringsteady and continuous rotation of'the .said shaft. Other objects will in-part be obvious in part be pointed-out hereinafter. 7

To the'attainment of the aforesaid objects and and ends, the inventionfurther resides in the vnoveldetallsof construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all: of which Wlll' be first fully described in the following detailed dcscription,then be particularly pointed out in the; appended claims, reference be ing had to-the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a plan view. a

Figure. 2iis an end elevation.

Figure 3 is aside elevation. Figure, 4 is a detail vertical section taken In the drawings in which likenumerals .of reference indicate. like partsin all of the figures, 1 designates a float which is of a length sufiicient to reach both the crest and trough'of awusual ocean wave or swell and which has mounted thereon, in suitablebearings 2, a main or driven shaft to which power is to be applied and from which' p'ower may be distributed for use. The shaft Srmay be provided with a fly.

:whleeh l; and a5 suitable, power take-0E pulley .151 or its; equivalent-. .I -he shaft 3 is also equipped; with eight loose clutches 6 which shaft 3.

was. serial in. 3 7 8,951.

maybe: the nature of springclutches or i any other suitable type of clutc'h through the medium of which rotation maybe imparted to the shaft 3 in one direction. only, the clutches-- being: free to 'rotate relatively to the, said shaftin the opposite direction. Collars :7'may be provided-to-holdthe clutches against longitudinal movement onthe sh'aft.

8 secured upon the, heat and-provided with ing a bearing head-:10. Each longitudinally aligning pair of'bearing head's 1O .rotatably carries. a shaftll and on each saidws'haftis .mounted a fly wheel; pulley '12.. The pulleys ofthe shafts of adjacent pairs are mounted at. thereverse endsof-the shafts :as illustrated a in; Figure. 1 of; .the drawings. I The transmission belt 13 passes over each pulley12 and over an associate'd one of the main shaft clutches 6,]so that rotationimp'artedto the pulleys 12 will be transmitted to the main Each'shaft ll carriesla pair of clutches 14: which are? similar in construction to; those mounted on the shaft-:3.- An; anchor 15' is provided. at each corner of the float, the said anchors beingadapted to rest on: the ocean bed whenithe invention isi-nuse for the purposeof anchoring the float on. location. in a manner, however, allowing movement of the said-float in all directionssuitable' for applyingpower. Eachmnchor-is' secured to a cable or chain 16 which passes around one of the clutches. on an associated shaftll and then over and aroundia clutch on an associated one 'A motor unit is mounted at eachcorner of the fioat-andzeach 'sald unit comprises a base four spaced bearing standardsgfl, each carry- Ofi the opposite pair of shafts and-then down into the water where it is attached to a-rweight- 17 suflicient to impart rotation-to; the: main shaftwfl' wheneverzthe said weight is: allowed toidescendintheawater. i

f. It will be understood"thatthe clutfcliesel l of associated shafts 11 loverwhicha respec-. tire cableor chain 16 passes areactivein, re-. verse directions, one of themhaving its as sociated transmission. belt 13 crossed, so that i.0ne of said shafts will apply power dueto an upward; movement of the float. "while the other will'apply power due to a downward movement 'of thefloat and under action ofv the associated weight 17 1 By employment of the equipment above described, each timea portion of the float is lifted by. tide, wave, or swell'action one "or more of the clutches will be actuated to impart rotation to the shaftfom which 'it is car. ried and therethrough tofthemain shaft '3 and every return movement of that same portion of the float will .cause'oneor n1 0re of the weights 17 to impart similar rotation to the shaft 3, it being understood that the-emiployment of the clutches on the shaft 3 enables relative movern ent-of the saidclutches and the shaft in such a manner that rotat on will'be im artect'to that shaft constantly and 'evenll 'so'longns any motion whateveris being imparted to'the float bymovem'ents of the water. It will be understood that rota tive impulses 'are'imparted not only by'upward movements of 'thefloat but also" during retractive "or lowering vinovementsfof the float. such latter impulses being imparted' or occasioned by fallin'g'of the weights 17 which H relates;

oc'cu'r whenever the portion of the fi'o at' to which it is attached. is being lowered;

In}thisfmanne r rotation'is imparted to the.

shaft'funiform'lvfbv varying and different movements of thefloat at its respective corners, for example certain of thejcorners may be moved upwardly "an d; others moved down- 'wardly.; yetallsuch movements Wlll serve at the same time to impart, rotation to the shaft 3, In this connection the building ofthe float of: a length for reaching both the swell and trough of waves is important since it facilitates active'inovementof the float for transmitting rotation at all times." I

It will be readily observed that anyl motion of the float will operate the mainshaft; 'a swing of the float by the shifting of the wind,-the roll of a wave, a swell, a rise or fall of the wave or tide will keep the main. shaft in constant motion and" in locations where extreme tides are experienced, as'in the Bay of Fundy; a most-satisfactory rotation of the main shaft will be'assured; I 1

From the foregoingdescription, takenin connection with thea'ccompanying drawings, it is thoughtthatthenovel details of con- 'struction, the manner of use and the advanshafts,a driver pulley on each driver shaft,

power transmission connections-between the driver shaft pulleys and the driven shaft fclutch drums, ananchor associatedwith'each driver shaft,a pair of uni-directional clutch drums on each driver shaft, a cable attached to'each anchor, each said cable having a weight attached to its other end and being wound roundone clutch drum of each drivershaft for the purpose described. I

2. A tide-and wave -motor comprising a float, a; "driven :shaft rotatable in bearings mounted on the floatyeight uni-directional clutch drums mounted on the driven shaft, a pair ofdriver shaftsmounted at each cor ner ofthe float one of eachcorner pair being cooperatively associated with one of the pair at the'opposite side but same end of the float,- a driver .pulley on each driver shaft, power transmission connections between the driver shaft pulleys and 'the driven: shaft clutch drums, an anchor associated: with each cooperatively associated pa-ir'of driver shafts and having" a: cable attached thereto" and wound overthe clutch drums ofthe saidcd operatively'associated pair of driver shafts and from thence extendingdownward'into the wateig-andaweight attached-to'each such extended cable end. P i

A tide and wave motor comprisingh float, a driven shaft'rotatable in bearings mountedbn the float, eight uni directiOnal clutch drums'mounted on the 'driven shaft, a pair of drivershaftsmounted at each cornerof the float oneof-eaoh cOrnerFpair being" cooperatively associated with one :of' the pair at theopposite s de but same end ofthe float, a driver pulley on eachzdriver shaft, power transmission connections between the driver shaftpul'leysfand therdr ven' shaft clutch' drums; an anchor associatedwitlreach'cooperatively associated pair of vdriverslnifts and having a-ac'able attached thereto and wound over the, clutch drums of the said ooooperatively assoeiatedpainof driver'shafts r and from thence extending 'downwardinto the water, and a weight attached'to each such extended cable ouch-said float being of a lengthtoenable it to ride the trough and crest of a wave at one'and the same time.

4. A tide and wave motor comprising a float, a driven shaft rotatable in bearings mounted on the float,. eight uni-directional pairzof driver shafts mounted at each corner of the float one of each 'corner pair being cooperatively associated with one of the pair at the opposite side butsauie endflofthe float,

a driver pulley oneach driver shaft, power I i transinission connections between-the driver shaftpulleys. and the ;,drive.n shaft clutch drums, an: anchor associated, with each co- ;operatively,associatcdpair of driver shafts and having acable attacl'iedthereto and wound over the clutch drums of the-said cooperatively associated pair of driver shafts andfro n thence'ex tending downward into the watenand a weight attached to'each such extended cable end, all of said shafts V clutch drums inountedon the driven shaft, a

being arranged in parallel-relation and extending longitudinally of the float.

A tide and wave motor comprising a float, adriven shaft rotatable'-.in bearings mounted-on the float, eight uni-directional clutch drums mounted on the driven shaft, a pair of driver shafts mounted at each corner of the float one of each corner pair being cooperativelyassociated with one of the pair at the opposite side but same end of the float,

a driver pulley, on each driver shaft, power transmission connections between the'driver shaft pulleys and the driven shaft clutch drums,'an anchor associated with each cooperatively associated pair of driver shafts and having a cable attached thereto and wound over the clutch drums of the said cooperatively associated pair of driver shafts and from thence extending downward'into the water, and a weight attachedto each such eXtende-dcable end, all of said shafts being arranged in parallel relation andextending longitudinally of the float, said float being of a length to enable it to ride the trough and crest of a wave at one and the's'ame time.

6. A tide and wave motor comprising a float, a driven shaft rotatable inbearings mounted on the float,'eight uni-directional clutch drums mounted on the driven shaft, a pair of driver shafts mounted at eachcorner of the float one of each corner pair being cooperatively associated with one of the'pair at the opposite side but same end of the float,

a driver pulley on each driver shaft, power transmission connections between the driver shaft pulleys and the driven shaftlclutch drums, an anchor associated with each cofloat, a driven shaft rotatable in bearings mounted on the float, ei ht uni-directional clutch drums mounted on the driven shaft,

apair of driver shafts mounted at each cor-' ner of the float one of each corner pair being cooperatively associated with one ofthe' pair at the opposite side but same end of the float, a driver pulley on each driver shaft power transmission connections between the l drums, an anchor associated with each co operativcly associated pair of driver shafts and having a cable attached thereto and wound over the clutch drums of the said cooperatively associated pair of driver shafts and from thence extending downward into the water, a weight attached to each such oriver. shaft pulleys and the driven shaft clutchextended cable end, each corner mounted pair of driver shafts being mounted in bearings carriedby a common bearing hanger mounted: on the respective float corner, all of said shafts being arranged inparallel relation and ex tending longitudinally of the float, and said float being of alength toenable it to'ri'de same time.

the trough and crest of a wave at one and the 8. In a swell or wave motor, a float having four corners, a motor unit located at each of the four corners on the float, a main driven shaft on the float'common to all of said motor units, said motor units each including power shafts,ip ulleys on .saicl power shaftsQone-way clutches connecting said pulleys operatively 1 to their powerisliafts, cables, one end of each of which cables anchored to the. bottom and the other end Of'GitCll of which cables carrying-a weight, each of said cables being passed around afpulley on one power shaft of each of a pair of oppositemotor' unitswhereby movement of the float will effect rotation I if power shafts and'said main drivenv shaft.

9. In a'swell or'wave motor, a float having four corners, a motor unit located at each of the four corners on the float, a main'driven shaft on the float common to all of said motor shafts, said motor units each including power shafts, pulleys on said power shafts, one-way clutches connecting said pulleys cooperativelyto their power shafts, cables, one end of each of which cables is a'nchoredto the bot tom and the other end of each of which cables of said power shafts uni-directionally, and; powertransmitting connections between said carrying a weight, each of said cables being i passed around a pulley on one power shaft of each of a pair of opposite motor units whereby movement of the float will effect rotation of said power shafts uni-directionally, and

1 power transmitting connections between said power shafts and said main driven shaft, said power transmitting connections including one-way driving clutches on the main driven shaft.

, 10. In a swell or wave motor, a float, an

'chorsat each corner of the float, a motor unit located on each corner of the float, each motor unit including a pair of power shafts, a pulley on each power shaft and a one-way clutch connection between each pulley and its power shaft, cables, one end of'each of which is 7 connected to an anchor at one corner and passes around a pulley on a power shaft of the adplcent motor unit and across'the float to and around a pulleyon a power shaft of the motor unit at the opposite corner, and

a weight on the free end of each cable, a main driven shafti'nountcd on the float, and power transi-nit-tin connections between each of said power shafts and said main driven shaft and including one-way clutches.

i FRANK W; MORSE 

